Bomb



j "Fig.2 is a view similar to Patented July 22, 1952 s PATENT OFFICE BOMB Martin Frisch, NewYork, and Stanfield N. Arnold, Dansville, N. Y., assignors to Foster Wheeler Corporation, New York, N. Y., a corporation of .New York Application May-16. 1946,-Serial No. 670,098

This invention relates to bombs, and more particularly to adapters for clustering bombs. I 1 The present invention provides an adapter for clustering bombs in which the parts thereof, when released from a cluster of bombs after it is free of a plane, fall at approximately the same speed and approximately. the same trajectory as the bombs in the cluster.

Bomb clustering adapters of the present inventionare suitable for both high and low level bombing, because the apparatus comprises relatively few parts, all of which have essentially the sameflight characteristics'as the bombs in the cluster. I adapterare essentially the same as that of the bombs, the adapter maybe released from. the bombs immediately after the cluster is discharged from the bomb bay of a plane and the parts of the adapter will not constitute a danger together Dlanesin the flight formation orfi'n succeeding flight formations; ,The present invention providesa bomb clustering adapter which is used with aimable bombs since the adapter can be released from the cluster immediately after the bombs clear the bomb bay ofaplane.

The. invention will be understood from the following description when considered in connection with the accompanying drawings forming a part thereof, and in whichv Fig. 1 is a perspective view of an adapter for clusteringlbombs embodying the present invention taken from the forward end thereof;

Fig. .1; butfrom the rearward end-ofsaid-bomb;..ji. i 1Fig.,3.isa longitudinal sectional view of a carrierflbar of the adapter taken on the. line 33 of'FigA; p y

Fig, ,i-is an enlarged transverse secti nal view taken onthe line4-4 of Fig. 3;

.5-is a sectional view taken on the line 5..5 of Fig.3; 7 h Fig. -6 is a longitudinal sectional view-of. a stiffening bar of the clustering. apparatus; a view similar to Fig. .5, but of another stifieningbar, jandi'f. n a

Fig. 8 an "elevational view of the extensible ta tain n me ns; I, l n "Like characters of reference refe'r to like'parts throughouttheseveral views. 'j

Referring to Figsgl and 2, t eaeiptaiaihe present invention comprises'ia Carrier ibar ill in which is anchored a plurality of bombv holding cables II. The cables extendamund a cluster of bombs I! which cluster is braced by a plurality of Since the flight characteristics. of the 9 Claims. (01. 102-12) stiifening bars [3 spaced circumferentially of the cluster and extending longitudinally thereof.

Bars l3 are held in the clusterby cables II and maintain the forward group and rearward group one end thereof. At its opposite end, the fuse is in communication with an ejecting charge within a container 2 I Fuse [9, cap and container 2| are mountedvin a'fuse body screw-threaded into the nose. I6. In axial alignment with the ca'pZD, is a firing pin .23 having a head'24 with a point thereon. Thefiringpin has longitu dinal movement in the nose [6 and is caused tomove toward the cap 20, bya spring 26 which bears against a collar 21. onthe firing, pin. The firing pin'23 has a substantially U-shaped cut-out portion 23' therein, one leg of which 'bears against. a longitudinal edge of a flat portion..28' ofan .arming pin 28 (Figs. 3 and 5) which extends through the wall of the nose [6 of the bomb. The arming pin-28 normally holds the firing pin in such position that the head 24 thereof and the pin 25' are spaced from the cap 20 against the tension of the spring 26, the pin 28 being held against rotation by an arming wire 26' which extends through the head of the pin 28, the opposite ends of the wire being held in an aperture in the Wall .of the nose which aperture is slidably engaged by the wire..- When the arming wire 26 is withdrawn,the tension of the spring 26causes the, arming pin to rotate permitting thelongitudinal edge of the-fiat portion 28 to disengage the U-shaped cut-out portion 23' of the firing pin so'.that the,.tension of the spring 2t";vvill cause the head 24 and point. 25 to impact the cap 20.

The fuse body 22 extends'in'to a passage in an extension 69 which extension is. also attached to, the nose by screw-threads. Cap 61 slidably, engages the passage .68 and fuse body and fits overthe. end of the-fuse body in ,which thejejecting charge container}! is positioned.

- Piston "29' is slidably mounted-Tin, the. passage .sje 50.

andha's' a -head"-30,at 'qnejend thereof and a reduced portion at the opposite-'end forming a shoulder (32 between said portions. A mounting tube I l extends longitudinally-of body. l5, one

., end thereof slidably engagingthe reduced-portion 3| of the p'iston'and abutting shoulder 32 thereof in. Smoke}, after the cartridgefi 10 The rod 39 is held in position in the carrier bar by the shear: 5

wire 42 which maintains the bushing4 0, secured to the rod by screw-threads =l'i',' in position ini the end 35 against the tension of spring 3 which use as a bomb and may contain explosive, incendiary or smoke-making substances. As shown in Fig. '7, the stiffening bar I3 is constructed as a smoke bomb by inserting a cartridge 62 containing smoke-making substance which is fired by an inertia fuse 63. The tail portion of the body 56 hassmoke vents by the inertia fuse 63 when the"bomb"'str1kes an object,

passes outwardly of the cartridge through outlets "66, thence outwardly of the body 56 through the vents 65.

Tie rods 64 (Fig. 8) are positioned in the bomb -E*cluster' andeigtend longitudinally of the cluster engages collar 44 and reduced portion 3 l of piston 29. A nut 43, which engages the screw-threads M on the rod 33, secures the tail '38 on 'said 'rodl substantially conical-shaped aperture 14 therein into which a substantially conical-shaped'stop '15, which is fixedly mounted on the rod 39, tightly fits. The stop 1-5 limits the movementof the rod toward the end 35 and, when positioned in the aperture M, steadies the extensible tai-l, as will hereinafter befully described.

Latches in the carrier bar l hold the cables I I in position around the bomb cluster until the latches are actuated to'release the cables. A latch 45 for each cable'is secured to and movable with the'mounting tube l4 and has passages '46 and, 41 therein which extend longitudinally thereof and axially of the tube" 14 at opposite sides'of the'body. The passages, as shown,taper from the end thereof adjacent the shoulder 32, where the area is the greatest toward theobposite end where theareais the smallest; Slot 48. in the passage flt'extendsfaiiially thereof and has a-portion 16 of restricted width anda portion i'l' cfenlarged width. Passage llfhas a slot 49 therein extending axially thereof whichjslot is of a restri teddimension, throughout its length.

The cables ll haveballs 50;.andf5l iconnectedto the opposite ends thereof and are of a diameter lessthan the greatest diameter of the passages IS-and 415 and greater than the smallest diameter of said pa'ssages, The ball Q is positionedin the passage "46" and isof a diameter greater than the width ofiportion 1.6 and. less'than' the. width of portion 11: The ball 5|, which is positioned in the passage 41, is of greater diameter than the widt of slot v49. The cables'to which the balls are attached'extend outwardly of. the latches 45 through'the slots 48 and 49 and outwardly of the carrier bar through aperturesiz and 53 respectiyelyin the body I5 'of said carrier bar. "The aperture 52 is ofgreater diameter than theball 50 softhat' the ball may pass freely through it whilethe aperture'53 is of lesserdiameter than the ball ;5lso thatthe ball E l will at alljtiines be ,to .maintain'the extensible tails of the bombs in position. The tie. rods comprise a rod having a pointed head 1| disposed adjacent the nose of 3 the bombs andof a dimension greater than the The head 33 of the mounting member 3 1 has a space between the noses of adjacent bombs and a tail at the opposite end thereof. The tail comprises three fins 12 spac ed apart so as to engage the adjacent. tai Surfaces of 'three adjacent bombs as shown in Fig. '2." Kwasher 13 engages the end. of the bomb'tail'and acts to retain the extensible tail in position until the declustering ofthebombsy; j',

In operationg'the bombs [2, which are hexagonally-shape'd, are formed'into a cluster as shown in Figs. l and 2 with the'carrier bar placed be tween two adjacent bombs at the periphery of the cluster and the tie rods positioned within the'cluster, both the carrier bar and the'rods ex tending longitudinally thereof. stiffening bars [3 are also positioned between twoadjacent bombs atthe periphery of the cluster to extend longitudinallythereof in spaced relationshipto th'ecarrier bar and withe'ach other. The cables retained in the passage'fl." So that the bomb eiusterjmaype hoisted into the bomb bay ofja' plane lugs 5d and 55 are attached to the upper part of the bodyf l 5 ofthe carrier bar I 0.

"'{Thestifieningibars l3 are. also shaped 'similarly d t d a a t ater fifat-Qbii thereto "-by a" bolt-0 wh ich 'e'nga within 'thebodyTileso 7 rat the; dTawntightly wlthlfitl'le ljody.

j li emil bets 13 have, ir a aieiie cop onation' of the 'e'j ection charg the same direction. .ll Moveme ii are then placed" around the cluster the opposite ends thereof being Dositionedin the latches 45. The'ca'bl'es have a turnbucltlelgin termediate the opposite ends thereof, Thetu'rn' buckles 13 are then tightenedsoithat the carrier bar and stiffening bars are tightly jposition'ed 'in the cluster and the-bombs are retained'in position in the cluster' by the clustering apparatus comprising'the carrier bar, cablesftie rods and stiffening bars, The bomb cluster is then hoisted inf/Q t e mb bay Of a plane, thebomb carrying mechanism lin the plane engaging the lugs. 53 dt w l I Before release from the boinb bay of a'plane; the arious parts of the carrier bar I!) 'areihthe position shown in Fig.3. v Upon releasejpf'thej bomb cluster fromftheflbomb bay; the arming wire 26 is'withdrawn c'ausingl'the arming pin 28 to'be rotated in a clockwise direction 1(Fig. 5: byfte'm sion of the spring 2;; which permits the'ispr ng 23 to act on thefir ing pin' 23 moving it in 'a rii rection toward the primer cap 23 and causing the point 25 and head to'impactanddetonate said (rap, 7 Detonation of thepriiner capl setsloff the time fuse 19' which burns toward'th'e'ejeetion charge in I the container 2 l Normally, the fuse is "such thatj th'eejection charge will be 31erd: W hin re at vely sh rt e i d im after the bomb cluster is releasedj om the plane, 9. 7. dim le 'qx at l W- mo esfth iussbody. can. aw f t carrier bar which'causes' the p n19 tailor the carrierbar I01. 7 time I Fan thejmounting member 34,; the head of hich is, ,engaged,by the opposite end of the t' l,Qtoward the tail'pf the earrier bax ,:liln

agement of thehead33 of the mounting member 'with the e'na wanas of the end 35 limits the movement of 'the' mounting" tube [4 and mounting member 34.1? Movement of the mounting-member 34 toward the'tail causes the'shear wire '42 to be broken a'ndflthe bushing-'40 to be released from the end piec'e'35', the bushing and the rod 39 to'which it is attached being moved rearwardly of the end iece andthe carrier bar. When the bushing 40 is free 'o'fthe' end-piece 35, the spring 31, which is under tension andbears on the collar 44, moves the rod39 to the right, Fig. 3, until the conicalsha'ped stop engages the conical-shaped aperture T4 in the head 33 of the mounting'member iilthereby extending the tail 38 beyond'the end of the'c'ar'rier bar. The tensionof the spring 31 isisu'h that the stop 15 1s tightly maintained in the aperture 14 thereby steadying the extensible t'fifiL 1 The latches 45 are moved in a directiohrearwardlyoi the carrier barby "the detonation'of ejection charge in container 2'] since the latches are attached'to the tube I4. This'movement of the latch members releases the ball 50 on the cables"! I from the passage 46, theball' 50 passing from the area of smaller diameter of vthe passages 46 into the area of greater'diameter of said "passage The ball: 50 moves; at the-same time, beyond the portion vl6 of restricted Width of the slot 4'8and to a point adjacent the "portioni'lr'l io'f'enlarged width thence outwardlyof the latchthrou'gh'the enlargedp'ortion TI. Releaseof the ball 50 from the latch members "c'ausesthe ball tb'pass outwardly of the body I5 through'the aperture 52 thereby releasingi the'cables H from around the stiife'ning bars [3' andfrom around the bOmb'ICIUStBI which declusters' the bombs l2. The ball 5l'is maintained the latch: 45" as :it is of greater diameter than the widtliiof the slot 49: The-bables ll, therefore-remain attached at their opposite end to-vthecarrier bar and fall with said barn Since the carrierrbar liL-stiifeningbars l3; and the rods 64 are .of the general construction of a bomb,uthey;will have-substantiall-y'the same: flight characteristics a' bomb,- and-:will tall at approximately the same speed and approximatelythe same trajectory. as the bombsinthecluster I g While a preferred embodiment. =01" the present invention has been shownand described, it will be unders t ood that, the invention is not limited to' f he precise details shown. 1 For example, any W9 known type, of firing mechanism may be used,, ii1 ,the,carrier bar to set on. the, ejection charge andfinthe stifiening bars togignite the s keeinaki'n orother substance. fIhe-nos or and stiffening tai structurejof the carrier bar may bev of a. type. well-known the cone struction ilbomlos e, chan es may; be effected in the form of ventiorr selected for disclosure'without de partin from the princ'iplesfiof the invention, itv willb understand that the inventionfis not to be limited cepti'nfgj by the scope ofthefl appended Wh'atis elaimedis: I r; lfl-"Bomb clustering apparatus comprising a shaped emb r ha ng 1 os a odypori n af i a b mbihb in r n t xt n arounda plurality of bombs and hold them in a. cluster xplos'ive containing means in the member; an xmasivemsaq containing means,firin means; roraetona mg an explosive, a piston ifl said ihemb'r 'a'dj acent the explosive containing r t e means and operative by theiexplosive force of the explosive in a direction away from the containing means, an elongated member extending iongitudinally of the bomb-shaped member in a di-' rection away from said containing means and movable longitudinally therein by said piston, and latching means mounted on the elongated member for movement therewith and adapted to releasably receive one end of the band, the arrangement being such that movement of the pistonbyfsaid explosive force causes the elongated member andthe latching means to move and release said one end of the band thereby freeing the band from around said cluster.

2. Bomb clustering apparatus comprising a bomb-shaped. member having a nose, a body portion and an extensible tail, a plurality of bomb holding bands to extend around a plurality of bombs and hold them in a cluster, explosive containing means in the member, an explosive in said containing means, firing means for detonating an explosive, a piston in said member adjacent thev explosive containing means and operative by the explosive force of the explosive in a direction away from the containing means, an elongated member extending longitudinally ofthe bomb-shaped member in a direction away from said containing, meansand movable longitudinally thereinby said piston, latching means mounted jon the elongated. member for .movementtherewith and'ada-pted to releasably receive one'end' of the bands, and. means for extending saidfex'tensible tail operative by movement of said elongated member, the arrangement being such that movement of the'piston by said explos'ive force causes the elongated member andlatching means to move and extend said extensible tail and releasesaid one end of said bands thereby 'declusteringthe bombs. I

' 3. Bomb clustering "apparatus comprising a bomb-shaped member having a nose, a body po'r-. tion and an extensible tail, a plurality of bomb holding bands to extend arounda plurality of bombsandhold them ina' cluster, explosive containing means. in the member, an explosive in said cont aining means, firing means for detonating. an ex'plosivega piston said'member adjacent the explosive containingmeans and operative by the explosive if orce of theexplosive in a direction awayfrom the containing means,j an elongated member f extending' longitudinally of b the bomb-shaped: member in adirection away from said eontainingfmeansj and movable longitudinally 'th'erem by said piston, latching means mo n d 01 h 'QlQ gQfiGd member for moveceivefone' "endf of the. band, me s in said cluster for holding the tail in its unextended fpjosition, an an gi r' te dinj said exte s e aiIJopment therewith: andfladaptecl to releasably. re-

ee t sl'm k yi a n s ne 'enqia taila't the'opposite end and-abody portioninter mediate n epeesae end r said memberythe having a longitudinally extending,

body portion chamber therein, an explosive in the member ad-' iaee'nt one end thereof, firing means in said member associated'with and; adaptedf to aaoj;

nate theexplosive, a plurality of bomb' h olding said actuated means being so disposed thatv deto-' nation of said explosive causes the actuated means to move longitudinally and impart longitudinal movement to said mounting means,

means normally holding said mounting means against movement, band securing means associatedwith each of said bands to. normally main. tain the bands in position around the cluster, each ofsaid band securing means being mounted on. said mounting means for movement there-- with, said band securing means comprising latching means adapted to normally rele'asably hold one end of a band and release said one end of a band upon longitudinal movement of the mounting means bydetonation of the explosive, means in said cluster for normally holding the tail in its unextended position, and means for extending said extensible tail operative by movement of, saidmounting means. v

5. Bomb. clustering apparatus comprising an elongated member having a nose, a body portion and a tail, a bomb holding bandhaving opposite ends and normally extending around a plurality ofbombs to hold them in a cluster, an enlargement. on at least one end of saidband, said memher having an opening through which the en-v largement enters and passes from the member, latching means mounted within said member for longitudinal movement in relationship thereto, said latching means comprising a body adapted to retain one end of said band in the member at all times and having a longitudinal slot to normally-releasably holdthe opposite end of the band in said member, the slot being of a dimension less than thesiz'e of said enlargement adjacent one end thereofand of a dimension greater than said enlargement in the direction away from, said one end of theslot opposite to the di-. rection ofilon itudinal movement of thelatching means, explosive'containing means in the member, an explosive insaid containing means, firing means for detjonati'n'g said explosivein said ex-,

ploslve containing means, and actuated means mounted, for longitudinal movement in said memberjand. cooperating. with the latching means, said actuated means being. operative by the ex? plosiveiorce ofthe explosive longitudinally of the member toward the latchingmeansto act thereon andmove said latching means longitudinally in the member thereby permitting the enlargementon said. opposite end of the band to beooineireleased ,from the portion of the slot of greater-dimension than the enlargement and pass outwardly from the member andfrom around the bombs to decluster saidbombs.

tionandatail, a bomb holding band to extend around a. pluralityof bombs and holdthem in a cluster, an, enlar ementon. at least one end of said band, themember havingan opening through whichfltheenlargement enters and passes from:

insjaid membenadjaccnt the; explosive containing;

7 6.. Bomb. clustering apparatus comprising a. bomb shaped member having a nose, a body pormeans and operative by thev explosiveforce of the. explosive ina direction away from the contain-, ing means, an elongatedmember extending 1ongitudinally of the bomb-shaped member in a direction away-from said containing means and movable longitudinally therein by said piston, and latching means mounted on the, elongated member for movement therewith, said latching means comprising a body adapted to retain one end of ,said band in the member at' all times and having a longitudinal slot to normally releasably hold the opposite end of the band in said member, the slot being of a dimension less than the size of said enlargement adjacent one end thereof and ofa dimension greater than said enlargement in thedireetion away from said one end of' the. slot opposite to the direction of longitudinal. movement of the latching means, the arrangementbeing such that movement oi the piston'by said explosive force causes the elongated member and th latching means to move longitudinally of the memberpermitting the enlargement on said opposite-end of the band to become released from the portion of the slot of greater dimension thanthe enlargement and pass outwardly from. the member and from around the bombs to decluster said bombs. l

7. Bomb clustering apparatus comprising an elongated carrier member, a bomb holding band. to extend around a plurality of bombs and hold them in a cluster, explosive containing means in the member, an explosive in said containing means; firing means for detonating an explosive,

a piston in said member adjacent the explosive containing means and operative by the explosive force of the explosive in a direction away from the containing means, another elongated member extending longitudinally of the carrier member in a direction away from said containing means and movable longitudinally therein by said piston, and latching means mounted -on the elongated member: for movement therewith and adapted to releasably receive one end of the'band, the arrangement being such that movement of the piston by said explosive force causes the elongated member and the latching means to move and release said one end of the'band thereby freeing the band from around said cluster.

8. Bomb clustering apparatus'comprisingan elongated carrier member having a body portion spaced from one anotherlongitudinally of said elongated membensa'id bands being of a length. to extend circumferentially of a cluster. ofboin'bs and normally retain them in clustered relationship, mounting means disposed' in said chamberfor longitudinal movement therein, actuated means in the member positioned between said explosive andthe mounting means for longitudinal movement toward the mounting means, said actuated means being so disposed that detonation of said explosivecauses, the actuated means to move, longitudinally and impart longitudinal movement to sai'd mounting means, means normally holding said mounting .means against movement, band securing means associated with each of .said bands to normallymaintain the bands, in position around the cluster, each of. said and, securing. means being 1 mounted on said mounting means.

9. Bomb clustering apparatus comprising an elongated carrier member, a bomb holding band having opposite ends and normally exending around a plurality of bombs to hold them in a cluster, an enlargement on at least one end of said band, said carrier member having an opening through which the enlargement enters and passes from the member, latching means mounted within said member for longitudinal movement in relationship thereto, said latching means comprising a body adapted to retain one end of said band in the member at all times and having a longitudinal slot to normally releasably hold the opposite end of the band in said member, the slot being of a dimension less than the sizev of said enlargement adjacent one end thereof and of a dimension greater than said enlargement in the direction away from saidone end of the slot opposite to the direction of longitudinal movement of the latching means, explosive containing means in the member, an explosive in said con-- taining means, firing means for detonating said explosive in said explosive containing means, and actuated means mounting for longitudinal movement in said member and cooperating with the latching means, said actuated means being operative by the explosive force of the explosive longitudinally of the member toward the latching means to act thereon and move said latching means longitudinally in the member thereby permitting the enlargement on said opposite end of the band to become released from the portion of the slot of greater dimension than the enlargement and pass outwardly from the member and from around the bombs to d-ecluster said bombs.

MARTIN FRISCH. STANFIELD N. ARNOLD.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS G r y e 1 0 

